TRIPLE Review Tuesday: All Quiet on the Western Front - 1930, 1979, 2022

Recently s friend asked if I had seen the latest cinematic incarnation of the novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Since I hadn't, she suggested that I might want to. Having vague recollections of reading the 1928 novel, I decided that, maybe, I should embark upon a journey of viewing the movie versions made for three very different generations. 

 

All Quiet on the Western Front

1930

Young Germans graduate school and head off to the horrors of the front lines of WW1.

This first version of the movie came out only a couple years after the release of the book. Keep in mind, this was in 1930. More than a decade had passed since the end of "The Great War" but the memory of it was still fresh. This awards winning movie in 2.5+ hours of national pride, turned to disillusionment, and finally, into the complete horror of war. 

 

Told from the perspective of Paul Baumer, played by Lew Ayres, we see him and and classmates graduate from school, then do to enlist into the German Army for the glory of the Father-land. In this version a good amount of time is dedicated to basic training, and how these idealistic young soldiers are turned out onto the battlefield without really knowing what they were in for. After that it's just one horror after another while the classmates all get killed off until the end when Paul finally meets his own end.  

This movie had many good depictions, if you can call it that. The occasional descent into madness, the demoralization of the troops, the realization of the sheer futility of their actions. The sadness you feel for "the enemy" from WW1. Yes, they were the enemy, but they were humans and doing what they were told was right for their country. The graphic depictions of fighting on the front line and what trench warfare was like was eye-opening. 

 

My only gripe was that everyone in the movie had some solid American accents and it confused me at first. I thought this was about German soldiers? It IS. They just acted like any other American sort of film.  

In conclusion, I liked this film. It's historically important and was the movie that set the pace for the following versions to meet.

IMDB

All Quiet on the Western Front

1979

Young Germans graduate school and head off to the horrors of the front lines of WW1.

More than fifty years after the book was published, and nearly fifty since the first movie came out, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT was remade as a made-for-TV-movie in 1979. The 70s were big time for television with these sorts of movies that never hit theaters as well as many mini-series. At that time one of the biggest actors for these roles was "John-Boy" Richard Thomas, America's sweetheart from The Waltons. So who would be better to star in this movie in the role of Paul Baumer?

 

In this version the film starts with Paul in class daydreaming and sketching a sparrow sitting on the windowsill while their teacher (Kantorek, played by Donald Pleasance, better known as Dr Loomis from Halloween) lectures them on duty to country since they are all graduates heading out into the world. Paul easily convinces his buddies to enlist with him to enlist in the German Army for the glory of the Fatherland. They quickly learn discipline and misery in boot came at the hands of Himmelstoss (played by Ian Holm, better known as Ash from ALIEN). They were greeted at the front-lines by Katczinsky (Ernest Borgnine!) who was going to try to show them when they needed to do to try to stay alive. 

 

This version of the movie was more refined, and with added realism. The horrors and gore were notched up because now you get the see the red of the blood all over the place. The actors acted more German this time around. Or, at least, they didn't have heavy American mannerisms to them. This version seemed like a fairly faithful remake of the first movie, with some additional details from the book added in. For instance, FLAME THROWERS. The artistry of this version was that it ends with Paul sketching a sparrow and getting shot while moving to get a better view of the bird, tying the beginning and the end.      

 

I would say this version exceeded my expectations. I wasn't expecting it to be as harsh and graphic as it was MADE FOR TELEVISION. In two and a half hours it got the point across, and inspired sorrow and empathy for the characters. 

 

IMDB

 

All Quiet on the Western Front

2022

Young Germans graduate school and head off to the horrors and death along the front lines of WW1 while politicians bicker over petty details of an Armistice. 

Another forty years passed and NETFLIX decided to remake this movie. Therein implying that there will be extra layers of politics and reality.  

This version starts on a quiet morning in the woods. You can hear the vague sounds of explosions in the distance. Then cuts to the front-line. German bodies across the field. German soldiers pour out of their trenches for the French line. Cuts to soldiers processing the bodies of the dead.Stripping the bodies, so the corpses can be placed in caskets for burial, and the uniforms to be repaired and reprocessed for the next recruits to use. Cuts to school. The boys are graduating and decide to enlist for the glory of the Father-land. They get their uniforms, many still with name tags of who wore it last and head off to basic training. In this version, basic training is largely glossed over. They go in as civilians, they march out as soldiers headed for the front lines. 

 

Again, this film is from the point of view of Paul Baumer (perfectly played by Felix Kammerer) as he experiences the horrors of the front lines and trench warfare of WW1. Introduced in this movie, TANKS!

 

Of the three, I really felt like this movie took the greatest departure from the source material. There was a good amount of screen-time dedicated to the diplomatic process behind the scenes. It was meant to show how nonchalant the politicians were about bringing the war to a conclusion while BOYS were being sent up to the front-lines to die for no good reason. In one scene the Germans overtake a trench that they had occupied earlier in the film. They were dying trying to take a trench that was about 100 yards away. 

 

In this version, the Germans make a final spoil-sport assault against the French just before the armistice went into effect at 11AM. Paul was stabbed  moments before 11AM and passed away moments after the end of the war.      

On its own merits, I found this version worthwhile to view, as well. Despite its departures from the source material, it provides much more background material, but with added reality, horror and gore. Also clocks in at 2.5 hours. 

IMDB

 

IN CONCLUSION:

There is an obvious evolution with this title. I remember the book being pretty brutal and cynical. While the first movie was still harsh, it didn't have that same punch to the gut that the book or the later releases had. It was a different age and they did as well as they could based on the early days of the cinema. By the time the 1979 version came out, the training and acting was better, and the added realism made the viewer sympathize for the characters. But the Netflix version? Knowing that 17 million died during the First World War, it's probably the most accurate. The horror of the battles coupled with the bleakness and broken morale of the troops made the viewer empathize more than ever. These guys really LOOKED like they were at war. They had that look of utter despair on their faces. 

 

In the end, I am not completely sorry that I watched these films. I already felt a profound sadness and empathy for soldiers, both living and dead. This merely reinforced my feelings on the matter. I will do this to myself again, as I have the book slated for reading, hopefully, in the near future.